Years ago Myriam and Dominique left a hectic life in Paris for a quieter life in Nimes — their high ceilinged apartment in an 1835 building, flooded with light from the large windows, is both a studio and a home for them. Here they raise Zoe and Alix, their two children, and work — Myriam in textiles, Dominique, as a writer who also runs an internet radio site. I have to say that I'm a bit ambivalent about the distempered walls, but I love the bright prints on the mid-century Scandinavian teak furniture. A great example of bohemian modern style. More here on Marie Claire Maison.

Based on the popular novel by Raymond Queneau, Zazie dans le métro is a wonderful 1960 French film by director Louis Malle that's an anarchic mix of comedy, slapstick — and a bit of French New Wave too. It follows the adventures of the mischievous ten-year-old Zazie, who turns Paris upside down during a weekend visit there with her aunt and uncle. See it for the scenes of Paris in the early '60s, for the wonderful colours and costumes — but mostly for the sheer fun of it. You can see how it inspired the film Amélie, too — they even have the same hair and little cardies! More here from the Criterion Collection.

This is the first in a regular series on automatism in which I share films that I love — I hope you enjoy it!